Belgium among top eight seeds for World Cup

Belgium has secured a berth among the top seeds for next year’s World Cup, ensuring it will be kept apart from hosts Brazil and the other six top ranked teams in the group stages of the tournament.

The coveted seeding comes after Belgium shot up the FIFA rankings: The Red Devils are now fifth in the world, after Spain, Germany, Argentina and Colombia (who could be yet overtaken when Belgium plays them in a friendly next month). Marc Wilmots’ side would have been in fourth place had they won their final group qualifying match last Tuesday, at home to Wales, but a late concession meant they ended their campaign with a 1-1 draw.

The World Cup 2006 champions Italy and 2010 runners-up the Netherlands are not amongst the seeds in Brazil, nor are England or France – which means they could face Belgium in the group matches as second seeds.

Belgium’s fifth place position caps a remarkable renaissance for a side that has not qualified for a major tournament since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. In June last year, just after Wilmots was named Red Devils coach, the side was ranked a lowly 54th in the world.